Frame



Patented Nov. 15, 1938 PATENT Orff-Ice FRAME James F. McAdams, West Somerville, Mass., as-

- signor to A. S. CampbellCo., Inc., East Boston,

Masslya corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJunc 24, 1938, Serial No. 215,575

11 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to sectional frames designed particularly for use on automobile license plates and the object is to provide an improved construction for sucha frame permitting it to be easily positioned on the plate or withdrawn therefrom` when necessary and yet to be rmly held without rattling.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 isa front elevation of :a plate having a frame, the construction of which is illustrative of the principles of my invention, applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view on an enlarged scale of a clip used in the construction; t s

Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of the same as seen from the left-hand and right-hand of Fig. .-2 respectively; Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 but with the license plate removed; and t f Fig 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have there `shown a license plate Shaving the usual openings I0 by `means of lwhich it may be bolted to a carrier bracket on the car` The frame herein shown is of the type which is supportedby the plate rather than one which is secured to the car andcarries the plate. It may comprise a circuit of sections of hollow tubular form, whch herein comprise angular corner sections D I2 and y alternating straight sections I4, `the former telescoping within the latter toprovide a wide range of adjusting movement among the sections of the frame to permit it tot license plates of different sizes and all the sections having an inwardly facing slot i6 or opening to receive' the `margins of the plate. I'he sections areof substantial cross section to constitute a frame member and are pol- `ished or otherwise attractively iinishedon their outer surface. Herein I have shown the sections as of circular cross section and split along their inner sides to provide the slots I6.

The slots I6. while narrow, maye be of substantially greater width than the normal thickness of the plate 8, and to retain the sections in their encircling position about the plate I provide securing devices which grip the edges of the plate and are retained in the tubular sections by virtue of the incurving margins of the latter at either side of the slots Iiiwhich are in effect oVerhanging-ilanges. These securing devices in the embodiment shownare spring clips I 8 formed of sheet metal and are relatively shortas com pared with the sections whichthey retain. I-Ierein I have shown clips on each arm of the angular corner sections I 2 and a clip on the longer straight sections I4 at the top and bottom of the license plate, the shorter sections I4 at the ends `of the plate being held by` `their engagement with thel corner sections I2 which telescope therein.

The clip I8 hereinshown `has generally the form of a split annulus whichmay be slid into one of the tubular sections from the end and `which provides at the split opposed jaw portions normally in contact, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Short outwardly diverging tabs 22 may be provided as extensions of the clip, which tabs, when the clip is in position in the tubular section as shown in Fig. 5, extend voutwardly through the sl'otand form guiding surfaces to receive the end of the plate which, when pressed in between the jaws 20, is frictionally gripped thereby while the body of the clip is expanded internally of the tubular section I4 (see Fig. 6). I

Suitable means may be provided for increasing the frictional grip of the clip on the tubular section. Herein a portion of the cylindrical wall is Vout to provide a circumferentially extending spring 24 which` normally projects outwardly from the general cylindrical surface of the clip, as shown in Fig. 2, to bind against the wall of the tube I4 when the clip is housed therein.

To prevent1 longitudinal movementof the clips on the sections, themargins of the latter may be` provided with notches 26 at either side of the slots to interlock with the clip. Herein at one end of the clip at the junction of the tab22 with the body thereof a struck-up projectionv 28 is provided adapted to engage one of the notches. 26, as shown in Fig. 5, being herein pressed into the same by the action of the spring 24. I have herein shown the end of the spring 24 itself as formed with a bent end 30 adapted to engage the opposite notch. To provide a wide range of adl f instability the sections may be provided with notches permitting assembly of the clips therewith at any one of a number of points. Thus in Fig. 1 I show additional notches 26 in the horizontal arms of the corner pieces I2 located close to the angle. The clipshown in Fig. l as relatively near the end of this arm, if shifted to engage these notches, permits the arm to telescope deeply into the horizontal sections I4.

To secure the frame about the license plate I the clips are rst assembled with the sections by being inserted through the open ends thereof and are brought to rest by engagement of the locking elements` 28 and 30 with notches 26. Ordinarily the several sections are assembled in a circuit considerably larger than the plate and collapsed into position thereon. The edges of the plate are introduced between and guided by the flaring tabs 22 and the sections pressed into position. The clips iirmly grip the plate and retain the frame elements in position but the latter may be withdrawn when necessary'to change the frame to another plate. No tools are required. The projecting short tabs 22 are inconspicuous in the finished job. The clips I8 may be made of highly resilient material, while the material'of the sections themselves as well as their form may 'be chosen to give the desired appearance.

I am aware -that the invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without Vdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present "embodiment to "be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims "rather than to'the'foregong description to indicate the lscope of the invention.

I claim: n 4 1. A sectional frame for license plates orthe 'like comprising a circuitof hollow sections having 'inwardly opening slotso'f restricted width to reinwardly opening Aslots of restricted width'to'receive the edge ofthe plate, and devices received within'the sections adapted tobe assembled therewith through the ends thereof but not to be withdrawn through the slots, said devices having jaws vpresented respectively at the sides of the slot'and resiliently pressed 4together to grasp the edge of a plate entered therebetween and having relatively short outwardly Haring guiding tabs rising from the jaws and extending through the slot.

3. 'A sectional frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow `sections of substantial cross-sectionalbulk and means formaintaining the sections of 'the'frame assembled about the plate comprisingdevices receivedwithin sections having parts resiliently Ypressed together, the devices acting, when apla'te is entered between the saidvparts, to contract in gripping relation on the plate and to expand "within the sections in retaining relation thereto.

4. A sectional frame `for license :plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow sections having inturned vflanges 'forming inwardly Ifacing slots to receive the'edge ofthe plate and means for securing the frame 'in embracing position on theplate comprising relatively short members housed in sections and fha'ving body portions retained by said ilanges and opposed resilientigripping portions presented'at the slots and adapted to be forced apart by and to close vin gripping relation on the edge ofthe plate. 5. A sectional 'frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow sections having inturned `flanges forming inwardly facing slots tolreceive the edge of the plate and means ffor securingtheframe in embracing position on the plate comprising metal clips of relatively lsliortlength receivedin sectionsfthe clips having `bowed bodies retained by said flanges and'opposed b'odies retained by said flanges and opposed yielding jaw portions presented at the slots and l'adapted to be forced apart by and to close in gripping relation on `the edge of the plate, and *means for providing increased frictional grip of the body portions on the sections in which they are contained.

7. A sectional 'frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow sections having inturned flanges forming inwardly facing slots to'receive they edge of the Yplate and means for securing the frame in embracing position on the plate comprising metal clips of relatively short length receivedin sections, the clips having bowed bodies retained by said flanges and opposed yielding jawportions'presented at the slots and adapted to be forced apart Aby and to close in gripping relation on the edge of the plate, and means for providing increased frictional lgrip of the body portionsonthe sections in which they are contained comprising a spring tongue formed thereon.

8. `A sectional frame for license plates or the likefcomprising a circuitl of hollow sections havinginturned ilanges forming inwardly facing slots to receive the edge of the plate and means for securing the frame inenibracing position on the 'plate comprising metal clips of relatively short ling'jaw portions presented at the slots and adapted to be forced apart by and to'close in gripping relation on the edge of the plate, the margin of a slot fhaving 'a notch in which a portion of a 'clipy engages to position it longitudinally in the section. u l

9. A vsectional frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow sections havinginturned anges forming inwardly facing slots 'to 'receive the edge of the 'plate and means for securingthe'frame in embracing position on the plate lcomprising metal clips of relatively short lengthreceivedin sections, the clips having'bowed bodies retained by said flanges and opposed yielding jaw'portions presented at the slots for gripping the edge of the plate','the flange having an opening adjacent theslot and the clip a projection to engage the same.

10. A sectional frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of hollow sections havinginturned ilanges forming inwardly facing slots to receive the edge of the plate and means for securing the frame in embracing position on the plate comprising metal clips of relatively short length received in'sections, the clips having bowed bodies retained by said flanges and opposed yielding jaw portions presented at the slots for gripping the edge of the plate, the flange having an opening adjacent the slot and the clip a projection to engage the same, the clip further carrying a spring pressing against the inner wall of the section and normally tending to hold the projection enga-ged in the opening.

U11. A sectional frame for license plates or the like comprising-a circuit of hollow sections having inturned flanges forming inwardly facing slots to receive the edge of the plate and means for securing the frame in embracing position on the plate comprising narrow, resilient, sheet metal clips received in sections. each clip comprising-a strip bent to provide a generally circular body tting within the section and flaring terminals adapted to project through the slot and forming a guideway for the entrance of the plate, the section having openings at its margins, an expressed projection at the base of one terminal of the clip adapted to enter an opening, a circumferentially extending strip cut from the body of the clip to form a spring normally projecting outwardly therefrom, the free end of the strip being disposed adjacent the other terminal of the clip and having a portion adapted to engage in one of the openings.

JAMES F. MCADAMB. 

